10 September 2007
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS – THE NEW UNIPRENEURS
New Unipreneur Awards will cast national spotlight on
student businesses
The growing number of students starting up their own business whilst studying at university is to be recognised in a new Awards to be launched this week and by a new name - The Unipreneurs.
The government-backed Unipreneur Awards, sponsored by HSBC Bank and presented in association with the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE), follows a recent study that suggests there could be as many as 80,000 students running a campus-borne business – with some already on the way to their first million.
Students faced with mounting tuition fees and inspired by reality shows such as The Dragon’s Den are racking their brains for ways to make money - and succeeding.
For many, that means finding a gap in an existing market and then exploiting it using the Internet to create business empires from their laptops.
The new Awards will showcase some of the most innovative new business ideas that are emerging from the Unipreneurs, either whilst still at university or within two years of graduating - with £20,000 for the best one.
HSBC Head of Business Banking, Huw Morgan, said; “There is a new breed of young businessmen and women on the block who don’t plan to use a good education making money for someone else – we call them the Unipreneurs and we are keen to support them.
“Their academic study has given them an awareness of structure and an appreciation of discipline.
“They have an understanding of business plans, finance and strategic thinking. They are analytical, creative, focused and so bring a credibility to their business ventures, that makes them enthusiastic and competitive.
“We are delighted to sponsor these unique Awards in association with the NCGE, which will recognise their growing contribution, both to the community and the economy.”
NCGE Chief Executive, Ian Robertson, said; “The Unipreneur Awards are a timely reminder of students’ new attitudes to employment and business which can be found on campuses around the country.
“We are seeing a new generation of young people who are passionate about working for themselves – and they are encouraged by the spirit of enterprise that now exists in universities throughout the UK.
“Today’s Unipreneurs are prepared to give their business idea a go - often with a fresh, new approach that has the power to change conventional market thinking.
“Entrepreneurship is the engine that drives the British economy and the more we can do to help and inspire these young men and women the better it will be for our future and the wealth of our country.”
Those wanting to enter the Awards have until Friday 23 November to make their nomination online at http://unipreneurs.hsbc.co.uk and could be one of the Top 100 who will go through to the final stages of the competition.
Judges include:
- Huw Morgan, Head of Business Banking, HSBC
- Dr. Lorna Collins, Director, Flying Start
- Emma Crosby, Presenter, Sky News
- James Murray-Wells, Managing Director, Glasses Direct
- Michael Smith, CEO, Mind Candy and Founder of Firebox.com
- Jenny Little, Enterprise Editor, Financial Mail on Sunday
- Professor Robert Blackburn, Director, Small Business Research Centre, Kingston University
Britain’s ultimate Unipreneur will be decided at a gala evening at BAFTA on 23 April 2008, when five finalists will be quizzed live on-stage by a panel of experts about their business and why they deserve the first prize of £20,000.
Afterwards, a specially invited audience of 200 guests will vote for the candidate that has impressed them most, and name the person who will walk away with the title and cash courtesy of HSBC.
For more information, please call Katie Ellerker or Claire Abercrombie at Aspect Communications on 020 8673 2020/07960 222 054/07790 010 509
